Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Valley Division facts for kids
The Valley Division was an important railway line in California. It belonged to the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. This line stretched from San Francisco all the way to Barstow. Today, parts of this historic line are still used by the BNSF Railway. These parts are now called the Stockton Subdivision and the Bakersfield Subdivision.
Much of the railway line heading south towards Bakersfield was built in the 1890s. It was originally part of the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad. Trains started carrying passengers between Richmond and Oakland in June 1904. However, passenger service on this part of the line stopped in the 1950s.
In 1988, the Valley Division joined with the Los Angeles Division. Together, they became known as the "California Division."
Contents
Modern Railway Lines
By 1996, the BNSF Railway had organized the old Valley Division into several smaller sections. These sections are called subdivisions. Each subdivision covers a specific part of the original railway line.
- Bakersfield: This section runs from Bakersfield to Calwa.
- Stockton: This part goes from Calwa to Richmond.
- Riverbank: This line connects Riverbank to Oakdale.
- Sunset Railway: This smaller line runs from Gosford to Taft.
- Mojave: This section goes from Hutt to Bakersfield. It also uses tracks owned by another railway, Southern Pacific, on the Tehachapi line.
Branch Lines (Spurs)
Railways often have smaller lines that branch off the main route. These are called "spurs" or "branch lines." They usually lead to towns, farms, or industries that need train service.
Fresno Area Spurs
In the Fresno area, a branch line known as the Fresno Interurban District went east from Fresno. Some of the places it served included Hammond and Riverbend. Around 1992, the Tulare Valley Railroad took over some of these tracks.
Laton and Western Line
South of Fresno, a line was built from Laton west to Lanare. This construction happened between 1910 and 1912. This line was about 17.5 miles long. It was officially closed down in 1980.
Arvin Branch Line
Another branch line was the Arvin Subdivision. This 17-mile line ran from Magunden to Arvin. The Tulare Valley Railroad acquired it in 1992. Later, it became part of the San Joaquin Valley Railroad.
